The Downfall of O-Block

For the past few years, O'Block has been running the rap game as well as the streets of Chicago. But the gang has also suffered countless losses and pressure from the police, especially after the murder of the gang's main opponent, FBG Duck. Let's get into the rise and fall of O'Block. Parkway Garden Homes, now known as O'Block, is a low-income housing complex in the 6400

block

of South King Drive. Built in the 1950s, it was a popular area for working-class black families and was even home to famous residents such as Michelle Obama and Dwayne Wade. But as crime increased in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it became a major center of gang activity.

At first, the building was controlled by Mickey Cobras and the Gangster Disciples. But in the mid-90s, the Black Disciples took over. In the early 2000s, the BDs at Parkway Gardens began being called WIIC City, which stands for Wild, Insane Crazy. In the late 2000s, Wiic City began working with a nearby Gangster Disciples group called STL/EBT. Their neighborhood was around 63rd and St. Lawrence, which is right around the corner from O'Block. As with most conflicts in Chicago, it's unclear exactly where the tension began. But in 2010, a Wiic City member named Reezy was allegedly murdered by someone from STL/EBT, sparking a series of retaliatory killings and a decade-long war that still continues to this day.

On August 11, 2011, a high-ranking Wiic City member named Odee Perry was shot and killed in the 400

block

of East 64th Street, just around the corner from Parkway Gardens. After Odee's death, WIIC City changed its name to O'Block in honor of her memory. No one was ever arrested for Odee's murder, but it was rumored that her death was retaliation for the death of an STL/EBT member named Tooka. Shondale Gregory, also known as Tooka, was a 15-year-old GD who was murdered a few months earlier while waiting for the bus. His murder is believed to be retaliation for the murder of a BD named Eddrick "Ty" Walker, who was murdered in 2009.

Odee Perry was shot on Tooka's birthday and it is said that Odee may have been involved in the murder of him. It is also rumored that Odee was murdered by one of Tooka's best friends, a teenage girl named KI who was supposedly one of STL/EBT's main shooters. But that has never been confirmed and some say that K.I. He wasn't the real murderer. The deaths of Tooka and Odee Perry were two of the most important events that started the feud between O'Block and STL/EBT. Furthermore, at that time, drill music was just beginning to become widespread, which also had an impact on what was happening on the streets.

In January 2012, Chief Keef released the song 3hunna which featured the beat "**** a takea gang ***** I'm 3hunna", incorporating the O'Block/STL theme into the music. Then, two months later, he released the song and video for I Do n't Like, which quickly emerged and introduced the rest of the world to punch music. The wave of new music brought attention to Chicago and suddenly Southern guys were becoming big stars. Lil Durk signed a contract with Def Jam in 2013 and other area rappers such as Lil Reese, Fredo Santana, LA Capone and Rondonumbanine also attracted industry attention. But although there were rappers on both sides of the war, it was mainly the BD rappers who attracted the attention.

So over the next few years, O'Block had a huge influence on the rap game. But piercing music doesn't just have an impact on the music industry. He also began to influence what was happening in the streets. Rappers making fun of each other and their dead friends in songs only increased the violence, especially between O'Block and 63rd. On April 11, 2014, KI was murdered after being shot while walking in the 6400 block of South Eberhart Ave. Her killer was never arrested, but is believed to have been committed by one of O'Block's most famous artists. : King Von. Von and K.I.

They had a complicated relationship, often criticizing each other online while bordering on flirting. But they were also opposition juries. Von was questioned by police in connection with K.I.'s murder, but the district attorney does not pursue the case due to lack of evidence. But, although Von got out of that case, he got caught up in another murder case that almost cost him his freedom. In July 2014, Von was arrested in connection with the murder of Malcolm Stuckey and the attempted murder of two other men. Von and Stuckey were at the same house party the night he was killed.

Police said Von recruited another O'Block BD named Big Mike to carry out the shooting. Big Mike confirmed this by telling authorities that they both shot at the group, but that it was Von's idea and that he was the one who fired the fatal shot. At the last minute, Mike refused to testify and ruined the case for the prosecution. But since he admitted to the shooting, Mike was sentenced to 28 years and Von was allowed to walk since he kept quiet, after spending approximately 2 years locked up fighting the case. While locked up, Von saw all of his friends doing their thing in the music industry.

So, he decided to start rapping when he came out. Durk signed him to OTF shortly after its release and released his first official single, Crazy Story, on December 6, 2018. The song went viral and quickly racked up millions of views. Of all the Chicago rappers, Von had some of the best beats and storytelling skills. Plus, he had the respect in the streets to back his music. In just a short period of time, he became one of the most talked about rappers in the world, further boosting O'Block's position in the music industry. But at that time, the GDs were also starting to get noticed.

In January 2018, FBG Duck, a STL/EBT rapper and one of O'Block's top operators, released the track Slide. This song became a huge hit and featured 21 Savage on the remix. Duck had been making music for a while and there were many other GD rappers who had created a stir in the city. But this was the first time anyone from STL/EBT gained traction in the industry. Duck and other STL rappers claimed that Durk and other O'Block rappers, who had all the influence and connections, were denying them. But sadly, just as Duck was beginning to gain momentum, he was shot and killed while he was shopping in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.

Around 4:30 p.m. m. On August 4, 2020, Duck was outside a store on East Oak Street when two cars stopped and four guys jumped out of them and opened fire. Duck was shot several times along with his girlfriend and another man he was with. They were all rushed to the hospital, where Duck was pronounced dead at just 26 years old. A few weeks before his murder, Duck released a vicious track called "Dead B****", where he shot several members of 600 and O'Block dead, including Odee Perry. Police believe the song likely contributed to his murder. Just a few months later, King Von was also killed in an unrelated shooting.

He ran into Quando Rondo outside a hookah lounge in Atlanta and a fight broke out. They were supposedly fighting over a woman. Furthermore, Von also had problems with NBA Youngboy who signed Quando Rondo. When Von began hitting Rondo, one of his friends, Lul Timm, pulled out his lighter and began shooting, killing Von and other members of his group. This sparked a dispute between O'Block and the NBA that is still active today. Many say that King Von's death was the beginning of the end for O'Block. He had a lot of momentum behind him and could have taken his cowl to a new level.

But like many rappers today, he was never able to reach his full potential. To make matters worse, all the violence was attracting the attention of the police who were closely investigating O'Block, especially after the murder of FBG Duck. In July 2020, the FBI arrested 23 members of the Black Disciples as part of an investigation into drug and gun trafficking in Southside. During the investigation, law enforcement seized 24 firearms, more than 13 kilos of cocaine, one kilo of heroin, 750 grams of fentanyl, 378 grams of crack cocaine and more than $50,000 in cash. The investigation named Darnell McMiller, also known as Murder, as one of the top leaders of the Black Disciples, who was arrested and charged with federal gun and firearms charges.

Other high-ranking members of the gang were also arrested in the indictment, significantly affecting their operations on the streets of Chicago. Additionally, just a few months before that happened, it was announced that Parkway Gardens would be put up for sale. When the news broke, Lil Durk stated that he was willing to raise the money and buy it, no matter the price. But by the time the news became public, someone had already purchased the building. It's unclear who bought it or what they plan to do with it. But it seems likely that they will tear it down and rebuild it, driving out many of its current residents.

O'Block has been an important headquarters of the Black Disciples for many years. Therefore, the sale of the building will make it difficult for the gang to continue operating on the street, especially with so much pressure from the police. The murder of FBG Duck only made the gang a bigger target and eventually resulted in a RICO indictment. On October 13, 2021, five members of O'Block, including Muwop, Kenny Mac, C Murda, C Thang and Los, were arrested on federal racketeering charges, including the murder of Carlton Wheatley, also known as FBG Duck. The indictment also charged the men with federal firearms violations and assault in aid of organized crime.

According to the indictment, the police used the defendant's own social networks to convict him of the crime. The documents allege that members of O'Block took public responsibility for their acts of violence in the city of Chicago and used social media and music to increase their criminal activity. After the news broke, several videos purportedly showing O'Block snitching on himself began circulating online. In one video, Von can be seen handing out huge wads of cash to guys in his neighborhood, including his son Muwop, one of Duck's alleged killers. Another video shows Bosstop, a well-known O'Block rapper, basically confirming that Duck was murdered for dissing his dead friends.

In the video, the interviewer asks if he knew Duck and Bosstop responds by saying "all I know is don't say that shit about T.Roy," one of the fallen O'Block members who was criticized in "Dead B." ****." Then, there's the line in Lil Durk's song, Should've Ducked with Pooh Shiesty, where he raps, "I told my PO through the door that I'm high ass. She asked me how high I get, I told her I'm high on drugs. Duck." So far, those five men were the only ones arrested on RICO charges. But rumor has it that Chicago police are determined to turn this into a major indictment aimed at bringing down the entire gang.

Now even more evidence has been released that connect O'Block members to the shooting. The feds recently unsealed an indictment that revealed several of the suspects were caught on surveillance cameras on the way to the crime scene. According to the report, someone saw Duck shopping at. Gold Coast and called O'Block's thugs to inform them of his location A minute later, a group of men were caught on camera running down the stairs at O'Block and getting into two separate vehicles: a Chrysler and a Ford. Fusion. The two cars then speed towards downtown, passing through intersections and red lights.

The vehicles were caught on multiple cameras as they sped towards Duck's location. When they stopped, they immediately jumped out of the car and began shooting at Duck. who was waiting in line outside a store. After the shooting, the same vehicles were captured under surveillance again, returning directly to O'Block. According to police, the men arrested for Duck's murder were the ones in the vehicle. After searching one of the cars a few days after the shooting, they also found a handwritten note that included C-Murda's phone number, Facebook and Instagram. They also found photographs online showing O'Block members next to the vehicles used in the murder.

So it looks like the police have real, concrete evidence, not just internet rumors. To make matters even worse, O'Block was recently criticized by one of the most popular rappers in the game, NBA Youngboy. Von and Youngboy had personal problems before his death that began when Von was dating YB's baby mama, Jania. But ever since Von was murdered by one of Youngboy's artists, he's had problems with the entire gang. But Youngboy has also been locked up fighting his own federal firearms charges since March of last year. He has now been released under house arrest and has been allowed to continue making music on a property in Utah.

Recently, he released a song called Bring the Hook, which sent the entire Internet into a frenzy.because he shot King Von and all of O'Block. In the song, she raps "N****, this is the Squid Game, Package O'Block roll up. Murder, what they told us, Atlanta boy roll up." It's unclear what led Youngboy to start sending shots from nowhere. For a time, it seemed that his flesh calmed down. But maybe he wanted to get it off his chest and he felt now was the time to do it because he might be thinking about spending the next few years behind bars.

Several rappers close to Von applauded in response. Durk posted a social media post saying, "Don't claim it if you don't, you're still a b****" under a photo of himself with a portrait of Von. Lil Reese also commented on a Twitter post made by DJ Akademiks stating that YB was at her best with her new song. Reese commented: “That's not a demonic moment, he just raps like the rest of these rappers. NLE Choppa also weighed in on the conversation, responding to Lil Reese's post by saying "I stamp it." This led to a situation between Choppa and Youngboy with one of YB's fans running at him at the airport for getting involved.

The feud between O'Block and Youngboy probably won't end anyone's career. But it will force some fans to take sides. Although Durk and the rest of O'Block have a lot of respect in the industry, Youngboy also has a huge fan base who are willing to attack rappers in public on his behalf. So while it's certainly not over for the already wealthy O'Block members, this may be the end of his dominance over the streets and the industry. With the feds watching their every move and projects shot down, they could find it difficult to keep street operations going. Keef, Von and Durk already made O'Block a household name in the rap game.

But without another up-and-coming rapper in his fold to carry the torch to the next generation, his 10-year career in the industry may be coming to an end.